Broadcom announces "3G phone on a chip"

Chipmaker Broadcom has annouced that it is the world's first single chip 3G HSPA (high-speed packet access) processor, designated BCM21551.

In short, Broadcom boffins have stuffed an entire mobile phone into a single 65nm CMOS chip. The device supports HSUPA 3G Broadband, has an integrated RF transceiver, WCDMA, EDGE, and can support WiFi with the aid of a proprietary chip.

It also offers interesting entertainment features, such as an FM reciever and transmitter and it supports cameras up to 5 megapixels with 30FPS video and TV out. The FM transmitter is an interesting novelty, since it will allow users to connect their phones to car stereos in no time.

Broadcom claims the energy efficient 65nm chips will allow phone makers to design slimmer and smaller feature packed phones. Samples are already out, and if you're buying in quantity a single chip will cost you only $23.